Portable dust-box



(No ModeL) 2Sheets-Sheet 1 H. S. RICHARDSON.

PORTABLE DUST BOX. No. 577,452. Patented Feb. 23, 1897.

'(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. s. RICHARDSON. PORTABLE DUST BOX.

No. 577,452. Patented Feb. 23, 13-97.

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PORTABLE DU ST-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 577,452, dated February 23, 1897.

Application filed March 1 8, 1 8 9 6 To (tZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY S. RICHARDSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Terre Haute, in the county of Vigo and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Dust Boxes or Closets; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to portable dust boxes or closets and receptacles for receiving and carrying away the sweepin gs from rooms and other places; and its object is to provide an improved construction of the same which shall possess superior advantages with respect to efficiency in use.

The invention consists,essentially,of a dust closet or receptacle having at its front a hinged door extending from end to end thereof, combined with a pan, either corrugated or plain, which is adapted to be swung down into an approximately horizontal or inclined position, so that the dust and other refuse may be swept thereon and into the closet or receptacle, and said pan provided with automatically-operating hinged wings at each end, which, when the door is opened,will be forced outward, forming guides for preventing the dust from falling off the pan and guiding the same into the closet, and when the door is closed folding fiat up against the same. The closet is also provided at the rear with a dumping-pan, hinged to the lower edge thereof, comprising two plates at a right angle to each other, one of which, when the pan is closed, forms a false bottom to the closet, while the other forms a back for the closet. This pan at each end is provided with segmental wings, one or both of which may be secured rigidly thereto or hinged to the back plate thereof, as desired. In the latter case one end of the closet is provided with a hinged door opening upward to allow one closet to be nested within another for economy and facility in storage and transportation.

The invention also consists in certain minor or sub combination of parts, all of which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

. Serial No. 583,710. (No model.)

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel is a perspective view of a dust closet or receptacle constructed in accordance with my invention, partly broken away to show the interior thereof. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a central transverse section. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view showing the means forautomatically opening and closing the guide-wings hinged to the front door of the closet. Fig. 5 is a similar view of amodified construction.

In the said drawings the reference-numeral 1 designates the dust closet or receptacle, of wood, metal, or any other suitable material, and preferably rectangular in form, with the upper side ends made sloping, as seen at 2, and provided with a handle 3.

The lower front side of the closetis formed with an opening for the reception of the sweepings, and at its lower end is provided with alongitudinal flange 4,t0 which is hinged a combined swinging door and pan 5,which is adapted to be swung down into an inclined position, as seen by the dotted lines, Fig. 3, forming a platform, corrugated or plain, upon which the dust is swept into the closet. At each end the said combination door and pan is provided with inclined wings 6,which swing outward when the door is opened, for guiding the sweepings into the closet.

The inner ends of the pan proper and wings extend inward beyond the flange 4, so as to cover the hinges of the door, and thus prevent dust from escaping between the edges of the door and flange. Near their widest ends the wings are provided with a stud 7, with which is connected a wire or rod 8, which engages, intermediate its ends, with the hooked end of a rod 9, secured to the swinging door. The opposite end of said wire or rod 8 is connected with an eye 10, secured to the closet. By this construction as the door is opened or swung downward the wings will be opened, and when the door is closed they willbe folded up against the inner side thereof.

At the back the closet or receptacle is pr0- vided with a hinged dumping-pan 12, consisting of a single piece of metal having its ends bent at right angles, or of two rectangular plates 13 and 14, secured to each other at right angles. The plate 13 when the pan is closed forms a false bottom to the closet and the plate 14 the back, which is provided with a lug 15, by which the pan maybe opened and closed. At each end the said dumping-pan is provided with segmental guide-wings 16.

For the purpose of facilitating the storing and transportation of the closet one end of the same is provided with an upwardly-swinging hinged door 17, and the adjacent wing of the dumping-pan is hinged to the plate 14:, whereby it may be folded up against the inner side thereof. By this construction by opening the door 17 a smaller closet or box may be inserted therein, when the door is closed, and the box, with the smaller one therein, can in a similar manner be inserted in a larger box, and so on.

At the front of the closet is a pivoted brushholder consisting of a piece of spring-wire bent outward at the center, forming a lug 18, and two horizontal arms 19, which latter are pivotally connected with brackets or bearin gs 20, secured to the closet. The arms are then curved upward and inward, forming holders 21, the extremities of which are adapted to pass through apertures 23 in the closet. This holder is adapted to receive and hold a dust or other brush, and the lug 18 serves as a catch which engages with the upper edge of the door 5 when closed and holds it in place. During transportation the holder is removed and is placed in position when in use.

The closet is supported by means of three conical feet 24, two at the front ends thereof and one at the back about midway of the length, thus insuring its remaining level on any floor.

In using the closet the front door is opened, causing the wings of the pan thereof to be opened or spread outwardly and the dumpingpan is closed. The dust is then swept up onto the pan and into the closet, when the door is closed and the dumpingpan opened to discharge or dump the contents.

In Fig. 5 I have shown modified means for opening and closing the wings of the combined door and dust-pan. In this case the wings on their outer sides are provided with a curved wire 25, the ends of which are secured thereto, and a space between the wire and wing. These wires pass through apertures 2G in the free ends of .the curved arms 27, formed with heads 29, pivotally connected to the flange 4. Said heads are formed with segmental slots 30, through which pass headed screws or rivets 31. As the door is opened or closed the wires 25, working in the apertures in the curved arms 27, will open or close the wings, as the case may be.

Large close ts should be mounted on casters or wheels to facilitate their movement on the floor.

I reserve the exclusive right and privilege to construct the invention with or without the hing ed flanges to the pan proper and with or without the hinged dumping device, either or both.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is-- 1. In a portable dust closet or receptacle, the combination with the front hinged door, of the automatically-operating guide-wings hinged thereto; substantially as described.

2. In a portable dust closet or receptacle, the combination with the hinged door, of the guide-wings hinged thereto, the lugs secured thereto, the rod or wire connected therewith, the hooks secured to the wings and the eyes secured to the closet with which said rods or wires are also connected; substantially as described.

3. The combination with the portable dust closet or receptacle, the door hinged thereto, and the automatieally-operating guide-win gs hinged thereto, of the hinged dumping-pan at the back of the closet and guide-wings secured thereto; substantially as described.

4. The combination with the portable dust closet or receptacle, of the hinged door, the guid e-win gs hinged thereto, the hinged d um ping-pan and the guide-wings hinged thereto, of the hinged upwardly-swinging door at one end of said closet; substantially as described.

5. The combination with a dust box orreceptacle of the character described, of the brush-holder comprising the wire bent at the center forming a lug or catch, the horizontal arms pivotally connected with the box, and the curved upwardly extending arms, the ends of which engage in holes in the said box, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY S. RICHARDSON.

\Vituesscs:

J. HOLMES, ELMER F. WILLIAMs. 

